India's Dependence on China and Athmanirbharata

India's Dependence on China and Athmanirbharata

             Indians are naturally angry with China since the border disputes and recent galwan valley attack tensions also who have raised their fourth objection to declaring Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

Amid border clashes, calls for boycotting Chinese products have intensified. While India relies heavily on imports from China, a much smaller portion of China’s imports are from India. India’s unicorns are also heavily dependent on investments from China. An economic boycott seems infeasible.

Such a move is neither practically feasible in order to obtain the desired result, nor will it be in our national interest to do so. Let us examine the feasibility angle first.

India is the biggest importer of Chinese consumer goods and the trade deficit of India with China is one of the biggest between two significant trading partners. India imports almost seven times more from China than it exports to it. The range of goods that we import from China is massive: consumer durables such as electronic products, mobile phones, plastic items, industrial goods, vehicles, solar cells, essential pharmaceutical products, including tuberculosis and leprosy drugs, antibiotics, among many others.

One-way traffic

              In FY19, 5.1% of India’s exports were destined for China, while only 3% of China’s came to India. Also, 13.7% of India’s imports were from China, while only 0.9% of China’s were from India.

Top partner

             Imports from China accounted for over 14% of India’s total imports in FY20 (until Feb.), the highest share among all the nations. Exports to China accounted for over 5% of India’s exports, the third highest.

High dependence

             The chart depicts the imported products for which India depends on China the most. For instance, 76.3% of all antibiotics imported by India are from China. India is heavily dependent on China for electronics and pharmaceutical products.

Start-up story

             Many Indian unicorns (start-ups with valuation of over $1 billion) have a Chinese investor. The chart depicts the estimated investment by Chinese companies in select start-ups.

            The mobile phone cannot be hidden from our eyes from morning to night.  If the smartphone is barely visible, but hang, if the hand sliding is cracked - the whole life is in a state of fragility.  More than 90% of our smartphones, which are nowhere near as good as ever, are based in China.  Is that the way to grab smartphones and boycott Chinese products on social media?

             India is a huge market for China economically. China, which is constantly trying to increase its exports from its country, has never been willing to lose its smartphone lovers, Indian consumers.  Those commodities have engulfed us so much that there is no way to live without China's products.  While most of the things we love and use are Chinese products, we must abandon our resolve to exclude them from our way of life!

China based smartphone maker Oppo is the main sponsor of the Indian cricket team, which is growing out of fan favorites.  Kohli, Dhoni, Rahul, Jadeja, Pandya, etc .. Oppo is also known for its jersey.  1,079 Crore Sponsorship up to 2022, also most of our Bollywood celebrities are brand ambassadors of Chinese companies, with the proprietary right-to-work campaign, increasing sales volume.  Vivo, Lenovo and MI smartphones also attract customers by offering sophisticated options at a very low cost.  Some of the Samsung and iPhone models, based out of China, are also manufactured in China.

           Although the big companies shouted 'Make in India', they came here and found a home;  The only thing that happens here is the ready-to-assemble function.  The entire chip, processor, display, battery, casing, memory card, etc that make up the entire smartphone, are all made in China.  It produces and exports electronic equipment at the lowest cost in the entire world.  Many of the products manufactured in India are based on Chinese equipment.  How, then, to boycott Chinese products?

It is our responsibility to increase the domestic product, buy the domestic products and strengthen the domestic market.  According to statistics from some websites, China accounts for about 24% of the country's total imports, including smartphones.  China's products have grown in India by leaving ready-to-market products for less than raw materials.

        The solar panel, which is widely used as an environmentally friendly way, will cost twice as much if it is imported from countries other than China, such as chemicals, fertilizers, children's toys, gift or display items used in information technology.  For such inevitable and economic reasons, China has relied on almost ready goods.  Imports from China in 2020 increased from 2014, with huge differences in the amount of imports from India to China and exports there.  India's trade deficit is estimated to be ₹ 3.54 trillion as imports rise.  The quantity that India imports from China is five times the value of goods that China receives from India.

Chinese goods are cheaper because of government subsidies and cheaper labor.  Those items are cheaper than locally produced domestic products.  Indians are also getting quality products at affordable prices.  E-market is such a louder product.  Brands that have only appeared online have now opened stores and service centers in major cities across the country.  While this growth is the source of job creation in the country, it is the manufacturing sector that is creating millions of jobs with economic growth.

Sectoral Dependence on China

Automobiles 

            Over a quarter of total import content is from China with the country being a key supplier of sub-components used in engines, electrical/electronics, alloy wheels, tyres, etc. It would be difficult to replace Chinese suppliers in certain segments like electrical and semi-conductors as the required scale and skill isn’t available at present. The government should focus on enabling a p policy framework to increase localisation of imported content. Consequently, once scale has been achieved, globalisation should be pursued.

Consumer Durables 

           Chinese brands in goods such as televisions and mobiles have strong presence in Indian markets while they’re looking to increase their presence in air-conditioner, refrigerator and washing machine segments. Supply chain dependence on China for Indian brands is also high. It would be difficult to replace Chinese suppliers in critical components like compressors, LED chips, motors , mobile displays, etc. 90% of Havells India Ltd.’s manufacturing is in-house (may be dependent on some intermediary goods from China). For other companies, in-house manufacturing stands at 20-60%.

Telecom 

           Telecom companies are dependent on network equipment providers like Huawei and ZTE for network access, which includes front-end telecom sites as well as backhaul network. Out of 22 circles, Bharti Airtel Ltd. and Vodafone Idea Ltd. use Huawei telecom equipment in around three and seven circles, respectively. They both incur an annual Rs 100-200 billion annual capex in India toward adding access sites and improving backhaul—transport and core capacity. China services three-quarters of handset demand in India and is deeply entrenched in the global smartphone supply chain. Any disruption in Chinese products may have a major impact on 5G adoption in India.

Pharmaceuticals 

            Dependency on China for key starting materials is at 60-70%. A ban on imports from China could lead to supply chain disruption in the Indian pharma industry. Due to economy of scale, raw materials procured from China are estimated at 20-30% cheaper than those manufactured domestically. Meaningful investment for setting up facilities in India to replace Chinese supply would be needed, which requires time as well as regulatory approvals.

Chemicals 

            Raw material imports from China for Indian agrochemical industry ranges between 10-50% depending on the product portfolio. Over the past three to four years, Indian agrochemical players are trying to diversify their sourcing requirement—identifying other countries to source from. The specialty chemical sector has relatively lower dependency on China for raw material.

E-Commerce

            Chinese companies have high investment exposure to some key startups in India. With pre-screening of Chinese investments in India, some Indian tech startups could face a supply crunch in funds from new as well as existing investors. 

Utilities 

            India is highly dependent on Chinese solar modules for construction of solar capacities. 80% of module requirement is met from China. Any decision to curb imports for existing projects under construction is likely to result in tariff revisions (pass-through on costs). Certain thermal plants, too, have Chinese equipment suppliers.

Agriculture

            India's second largest agriculture producer after China even in exporting various agriculture products. But India is dependent more than 80% on China in cheap agrochemical like pesticides, insecticide  ,agro equipments and agro machineries. Also India's most of agriculture products have consumers in China.

Yoga & Sports

            Indians are becoming increasingly interested in yoga, and the number of yoga and yoga centers in schools has become a hobby.  As a result, there is a demand for yoga mats.  China is supplying yoga mats with a warranty and at a lower cost.  Domestic mats made from materials such as PVC and rubber are rare.  China-made mats are available at any store or online.  China is still the source of sports and fitness related accessories.

Batteries and electric powered toys are being imported, ranging from toys for a three-month-old child.  The festival, decorative items for special occasions, painted LED bulbs, plastic covers, .. everything you need is available from China.  There is a separate market for major brands in the country, such as the iPhone Mobile, Reebok, Nike, and any other global brand.  These bazaars are louder than other markets.  So how is China boycotting products?

China's products are so Favourite in India

         The basic reason for the popularity of Chinese products in India is the low price of products. There are two basic reasons behind the low price of Chinese products-

1. The cost of production is China is low due to the availability of cheap labour force.

2.The manufacturing sector in China gets a subsidy from the government which reduces the cost of  production of the goods.

3. Chinese manufacturers produce a huge quantity of the goods which reduces the cost of per  unit(law of “Economies of scale” is applicable here)

          The cost of production of Indian manufacturers is high due to costly raw material, the old technique of production, higher fixed cost. Due to the higher cost of production Indian products cannot compete with Chinese products in India and at the international level. 

Indian sector is most affected by China?

          The toy industry of India is badly affected by cheap Chinese imports. The cost of Chinese toys is so low that any Indian company is unable to compete with China. Last year only 20% of the Indian toy market is captured by the Indian companies while the rest of the 80% market is captured by the Chinese and Italian companies.

According to a study by ASSOCHAM, 60% of Indian toy-making companies have been closed in the last 5 years and 20% are on the verge of closure. China has broken the shoulders of the Indian electronic industry by dumping cheap electronic items (lightings used on the Diwali festival is the hot example of the same)

China-based vendors continue to strengthen their grip in the Indian Smartphone market. In the first quarter of 2017, China-based vendors captured 51.4 percent share of the smartphone shipments in India with 16.9 percent sequential growth and impressive 142.6 percent growth over the same period last year. In contrast, the share of homegrown vendors dropped to 8.5% in the Q1 2019 from 40.5 percent in Q1 2014.(A shop in India filled with made in China products)

Can India stop supply of Chinese products in the Indian Market?

         The answer is no; because as per the rules made by the World Trade Organisation, it is not possible to impose a full ban on imports from any country even if there are no diplomatic, regional, and trade relations with that country.

But the government of India can ban some Chinese products on the basis of health and security issues.  Commerce and Industry Minister replied in the Lok Sabha that the government of India had banned Chinese mobiles that don’t have an IMEI number. China has also banned Indian milk products on the basis of serious health issues.

India can do.!

            India can impose an anti-dumping duty and countervailing duty on the cheap Chinese products like electronic items and toys. After the imposition of these two duties the prices of Chinese products increase in the Indian market, hence Indian manufacturers will have the chance to produce these products on Indian soil which will generate employment in India.

Impacts of the ban on Chinese products in India

           It is a well-known fact that the Indian market is a price-sensitive market. Here a company has to keep the price low to penetrate the market. Indian consumers are more concerned about the price of the products not the quality of the products.

So if Chinese products are banned/boycotted in India, it can raise the inflation rate in India because Indian products are costlier as compare to Chinese products. The people of the lower-income groups in India will suffer a lot because they will not be able to purchase costly Indian products.

So before taking any decision of banning/boycotting of Chinese products; the government of India must remember that China sends just 2% of its total export to India while India sends 8% of its total export to China. Hence Government of India needs to make a rational decision not the emotional one on this matter.

What’s National interest?

       The important thing here is to distinguish what is in India’s national interest. If we define our national interest as the greatest good (higher income) for the greatest number of people, then import substitution would just not work. Imported products allows consumers from all income levels the ability to consume these products at lower prices and retailers to maximise on their sales.

How do you respond to the Chinese actions in the UN, then? It is a political problem and largely needs a political resolution. If we were to impose trade sanctions against each country that has mildly annoyed India in the geopolitical realm, we would be left with no one to trade with. 

The US has traditionally given monetary aid to Pakistan despite Pakistan’s unwillingness to curb home grown terrorism. Can we afford to not trade with the US? Saudi Arabia and other middle Eastern economies fund Pakistan’s terrorism directly or indirectly. Can we afford to stop importing oil from these countries?

Harming one’s own citizen’s in order to extract revenge on another country seems to be an ill-advised move. Each citizen can take a call on what they want to buy or not. If Chinese made plastic diyas during Deepavali is not to your liking, don’t purchase it. But, that’s no reason to call for a universal boycott on Chinese imports.

Finally, is this dependence on China for imports good? Perhaps not. As of now, we do not have a comparative advantage in producing the goods that we import from China. However, with the right policies, we can produce some of these items or contribute a greater amount in the global production value chain. For that, we need to improve our productivity by using other countries low cost technologies like China and cease the economy, free up labour laws, reform land acquisition policies, fix our credit system, and so on.

Investment, industrial production and employment growth declined during the 2018/19 from the 2014 the year in which the "Make in India" industrial policy initiative was inaugurated.

Boycotting or barring Chinese exports and investment could exacerbate India's falling economic fortunes that have been made worse by COVID-19. Restricting Chinese exports would raise the prices of consumer goods, particularly those of smartphones and other electronic products which the "Made in China" ones dominated the Indian market. Barring Chinese investment would hurt India's technology and innovation ambition because it accounted for the majority of the country's technology startup enterprises.

Furthermore, the disputed territory is of little economic and geopolitical values to either country and probably planted by the British to ensure perpetual conflict between China and India, thus keeping their economies underdeveloped. Both share a common history, being economic and geopolitical powers before being colonized by Britain. Together, they accounted for over 55 percent of global GDP in the 1700s. There is no reason to believe that they could not regain that status with the "right" policies.

The two countries' large populations are hardworking, enterprising and value education and richly endowed with natural resources. Cooperation in exploiting these sources of economic growth would accelerate and sustain India's and China's long-term economic growth and stability. Investing in job training, for example, could make Modi's industrial policy a reality sooner rather than later. China is climbing the value-added manufacturing ladder and could channel lower-end manufacturing to India.

Taking the debate to its logical conclusion, India and China should and must live up to their obligations as members of a number of international organizations, cooperating with instead of against each other.

Religion and Indian society

India and Religion

Religion is believed to be a purely personal matter. That is why religion has an important place in the life of an individual. Because it satisfies the social, psychological and spiritual needs of individual. It performs many valuable services and functions for both individual and society. In other words religion has both individual and social aspects. It performs many social 

Sociologists like Emile Durkheim, Max-weber, Parsons and others have emphasised the social importance of religion. But at the same time there are some other sociologists like KarlMarx, Sumner, Gillin and Gillin speaks about the negative roles of religion.

Hence religion has both positive and negative roles. In other words religion has both functions as well as dysfunctions. However, some functions and positive roles of religion are described below: Famous Sociologist A. W. Green speaks about three universal functions or roles of religion such as:

(1) Religion Rationalizes and Makes Bearable Individual Suffering in the Known World:

By soothing the emotions of man in times of suffering and disappointments religion contributes to the integration of his personality. In the midst of all hopes and achievements man often suffer from disappointment and sufferings due to non ­fulfillment of worldly desires. Religion console and compensate him and helps him to bear his frustrations and integrate his personality. Religion sustains his interest in life and make bearable all individual sufferings.

(2)Religions enhances importance:

Religion widens one’s self to the maximum extent. It enables man to unite himself with the Almighty and his self is made triumphant. He considers himself as the noblest creation of God.

Being influenced by religion he looks towards the positive side of everything which further expands his self. Religion assures him a greater reward in after life.

(3) Religion brings social cohesion:

Religion helps to kint the social values of a society into a cohesive whole. A social value comes from religious faith and it is the foundation on which social values rest. Religion teaches the values of love, service and discipline. Besides values like children should obey their parents, people should be honest and virtuous, women should be faithful to men etc. brings cohesion in society. By the common possession of these values individual controls the actions of self and others and thereby led to the perpetuation of society. Thus religion is the ultimate source of social cohesion.

(4) Religion acts as an agency of social control:

The most noteworthy role of religion is that it acts as an important agency of social control. It exercises control over individual behavior and on society. Religion regulates the behavior of people in its own way. Different religious organizations like temple, church, Mosques etc. exercises control over individual behavior at different levels. It check the deviant tendencies of man. By the method of reward and punishment it exercises greater control over individual’s behavior.

(5) Religion acts as an agency of socialization:

Religion not only exercises control over individual behavior but also socializes him from the very beginning. It insulates different virtues in him. It socializes him as per the norms of society.

(6)Religion brings social welfare:

Every religion believes in the principle that “Service to humanity is service to God”. It teaches people to serve the masses and help the poor and needy. Every religion teaches it’s followers to give alms to the poor and spend some amount of one’s income for the needy and the destitute. It creates Philanthropic attitude among the people. Being guided by this different religious organizations, pious people engage themselves in different welfare activities. By this way religion became able to promote individual and social welfare.

(7) Religion establishes Solidarity in Society:

Every religion gives stress on mutual co-operation and the spirit of brotherhood. Followers of a particular religion have common belief, common sentiment and participate in common ritual which integrates them. Durkheim opines that religion brings solidarity in society.

(8) Religion provides peace of mind:

Religion consoles people at the time of crisis. At the time of failure and danger religion act as a ray of hope for people and there by brings peace of mind. It creates self-confidence in man and enables him to face the problems of life with courage and strength.

(9) Religion promotes literature:

Religion greatly contributes to the growth of art, music and literature. Intense desire to please God for personal benefits led people to extol them in devotional song, painting, architecture and sculpture. This led to the creation of beautiful temple, mosques and finest music and paintings.

(10)Religion provides opportunity for friendship and healthy 

recreation:

At the time of religious gatherings and festivals people meet each other and friendship develops among them. Every religion organizes bhajana and kirtans, religious lectures which provides mental peace and pleasure to people. All these provide for healthy recreation to people.

(11) Religion influences economic life:

Famous Sociologist Max Weber opines that religion deeply influences and determines economic life of people. He observed how protestant faith of Christian religion led to the development of capitalism in the countries practicing protestant faith and not among countries following other faiths.

(12) Religion controls the behavior of its followers through preaching’s, teachings, festivals and community activities.

(13) Religion propagate social harmony and unity through education and social welfare.

(14) Religion influences political system of the country. Religion played significant role in the ancient and medieval political systems. Kings and Emperor was worshipped like God and they were considered as the representative of God on earth. Even at present religion directly or indirectly influences the political activities of different countries. Ex-Pakistan.

(15) Religion also directs scientific invention and discoveries and thereby promotes science.

(16) Malinowski opines that religion serves as a tool of adaptation. It provides mental stability to individual’s life.

(17) Religion plays an important role in organizing, planning and directing social life.

These are different positive roles or functions performed by religion as an important social institution.

Negative Roles of Religion Today:

No doubt religion performs many positive roles in society and act as an integrating or unifying force in human society. But at the same time religion has many dysfunctions or performs many negative roles which destablishes and disintegrates society. However, some of the negative roles of religion are:

(1) Religion hinders social and economic progress. Religion makes people dogmatic and superstitious as a result of which people oppose all kinds of scientific discoveries and technological advancement. It divides society into different sections.

(2) Religion makes people fatalistic. Instead of human effort and worship they start believing on God’s desire and believe that everything is predestined. This kind of thinking make them idle and thereby the progress of society is hampered.

(3) Religion encourages exploitation. Marx opines that religion is the root cause of exploitation. In the name of religion and God one section of society exploits others and inculcate the idea among the exploited that they are defined to suffer because of their previous karma. God made them so and no one can alter their condition.

(4) Religion creates poverty, slavery and untouchability in society. People do not try to improve their condition because God wanted them to be in that position. Religion makes a section of people untouchable which disintegrates society.

(5) Religion promotes different types of evil practices like animal sacrifice, customs of sati, caste system, untouchability etc.

(6) Religion promotes communalism by creating intolerance, mistrust, hatred and jealousy among people. Because of this different religious groups got involved in different kinds of conflict which leads to communalism and communal riots.

(7) Marx opines that religion is the opium of the masses which keeps them in degrading subjection.

(8) Religion creates dogmatism and bigotism and thereby denying freedom of thought.

(9) Religion retards the advance of science and suppressed the democratic aspirations of common people.

(10) Religion favored war and poverty in society.

(11) Religion creates political instability in society by entangling itself with politics. Different political parties are exploiting the religious card to create vote banks.

Shrishail kp

CULTURE

INDIAN AND CULTURE

                        

 

 

                   The sculptures of yore are silent evidences of the antiquity of the Indian classical dances traditional sacred text show the close association of religion with dance. Indian dance, like other Indian arts, has always been conscious of the relationship between the human being and God. 

                The divine concept of the cosmos and the philosophy of Indian thought pervade and form a backdrop to the dance techniques. Dance was a ritual form of worship in temples. The much denigrated devadasis in the temples, in their rituals of worship, kept alive the art form, till a cultural revival brought the dances out of the temples into the theatres of the present. The principles of Indian classical dance style derive from the Natyashastra ( 2nd century AD) by Bharatamuni. Natya includes dance, music and drama. Bharatamuni traces the origin of the art form to Brahma. It was Brahma who, on perceiving the growing desire, greed, jealousy, anger, and misery in the world, went into meditation and created a fifth Veda, viz., the Natyaveda, representing the essence of the existent four Vedas like words from the Rigveda, music from the Samaveda, gestures from the Yajurveda and emotions from the Atharvaveda. There is also a legend that Brahma himself wrote the Natyaveda, which has over 36,000 verses. 

              Dance in India evolved in different parts of the country on its own distinct style taking on culture of that particular region each acquiring its own flavor. Consequently a number of majour styles of art dance are known to us today are seven types like Bharatanatyam (ka&Tn), Kathakkali (kr),Khathak(up),Kuchpudi(Ap),Manipuri(Manipur),Odissi(orissa)& Sattriya (Assam). The folk music and dances of agricultural communities celebrate the rhythms of daily life, the turn of the seasons, the highlights of the agricultural calendar, religious festivals and important events that punctuate the flow of life, such as births and marriages. Giddha, Ghoomar (Rj), Garba& Bhavai(Gj), Dandiya Ras & Tmasha(Mh), Lavani , Nautanki (Rj,UP&Bh) Jatra(Wb), the spectacular Yakshagana of Karnataka and Theyyam of Kerala, all of which narrate legends of local heroes, kings and deities. Martial art forms throughout the country have been stylized to quasi dance forms, notable among which are the martial dances of the Northeastern hill tribes, the Lazim dances of Maharashtra, the Kalaripayattu of Kerala, and the highly stylized masked Chhau dances of Orissa, West Bengal and Bihar.        

           The dance’s spiritual characteristic is a significant presence in the Indian community and offers an insightful balance to a culture that is often been blended with the Western ways of dance. Indian women often have a contemplative time adhering to the globalization of dance as a whole when they consider the classic Indian dance, yet the ties are too deep to leave.
Dance as a Means of Cultural Connection 

               To the Indian women, dancing connects them both to the roots of their culture in spite of the assimilation process that takes place once they leave their homes. Despite the cultural differences being different once the Indian women leave their proverbial boundaries, adaptations can be created; but for the most part the women consistently hold true to the artistic expression that is understood through the classic Indian dance. The phenomenon is one of melodic emotion and familiarity rather than anything being assimilated into their new culture. The women may mention the cultural differences as dance has evolved globally; yet hold true to the idea of transcendence that classic Indian dance offers and provides. Notwithstanding the insistence of Indian women to keep within the roots of what they were brought up in regarding dance, the acculturation process is often very strong causing the Indian women to adapt the dance to the cultural distinctions that do not necessarily represent the culture of their world. The acculturation process has created the birth of the modern Indian dance movement which is diametrically different than the classic Indian dance. The differences in classical versus modern Indian dance are guided by the means of body communication. "Modern dance is a movement of the human form for its own sake, primary and not dependent upon the poetry line. Dance is created first and then the music is composed. Movement evolves and is not guided by any point or articulation of the body. There is hardly any vocal accompaniment in the compositions. It is instrumental music which either heightens the effect of the dance or is subordinate to the movement" ("Contemporary Classical and Modern Indian Dance").           

             “These changes reveal sophisticated strategies at work. Popular culture and its dance forms may have contributed to the traditional forms of dance and caused a change in the shift of what is exhibited by the women that practice it. The acculturation process has had a significant influence on the dance genre and thus the discourse on traditional rhythmic form that [this] particular dance uses. Control over aesthetic values is at the center of the debate that [Indian women] often have as to the authenticity of what modern dance depicts" versus the classical Indian dance. The difference between contemporary and classical Indian dance is in the movements that are performed in them. Many contemporary dance classes and performances have incorporated traits of traditional Indian diasporic complexities. The changes are subtle in appearance but the backdrop of the universal aspects and the essential nature has remained the same. This makes for an easy assimilation into the current dynamics of the visual arts form.
The world of dance in today's atmosphere has evolved with an ever changing increasing understanding of nature of the state of India and the identity of dance itself. While transcendence has become a central focal point of classical Indian dance and remains to be the case, the traditional context of dance has continued to undergo constant interrogation, reorganization as there has been an increasing need to discuss the traditional fruits of the art form compared to the modernistic outlook that the rasas have taken on. Many Indian women maintain to discuss and ruminate about traditional, classical Indian dance as it continues to transcend borders and expand through the acculturation process.

LINGAYATA AND BASAVANNA

There is no pot without the possibility of clay and no God without ME. Shiva is within me.” - Basavanna

Can God be ever described fully? Has anyone successfully explained a Mystical experience? Every religion tries to describe the indescribale Supreme being. In the end we have to agree that all these years God has been described in frail human ways alone and not in ITS real beingness. Today's world cannot understand nothingness, for it is too busy with technological advance. Here's Virasaivism which teaches us great truth.

Virasaivism or Lingayatism and its philosophy have a distinct place in the religious history of our country. Just as Buddha tried to revive Hinduism through Buddhism, Basavanna tried to renew Saivism into Virasaivism (Lingayatism).

Virasaivism is a sect of Saivism that is prominently present in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It originated in the 12th century through Basavanna, who was the PM at the court of King Bijjala in Kalyan (present Gulbarga of North Karnataka). King Bijjala was a Jain king, yet allowed Basavanna to give a prophetic revival to the existing Saivism. This development took place when Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism were trying to establish themselves.

Lingayatism has its roots in Kashmiri Saivism and has many aspects adopted from it. The Linga (Istalinga) is the most prominent characteristic of Lingayatism for they believe that God must is enthroned not only in the temples but also more importantly in their heart always. Basavanna used to gather his disciples at Anubhava Mantap to discuss spiritual matters. This very place gave rise to Virasaivism. Thus, Virasaivism at its core goes beyond caste barriers allowing anyone to be a follower of it. Allamaprabhu and Chennabasava are its two important saints.

The spiritual text of Lingayats is called Vacanas written in Sanskrit and Kannada. “Kayakave Kailasa" (Work is worship or Work is the abode of God) is the favourite inspirational quote of Basavanna.

What is Sunya?

Sunya = nothingness or zero or void. It represents God the primordial reality. Sunya also indicates space (Bayalu) – space of mind and body.Sunya originated to represent the highest reality. Number was the immediate symbol used by the people in explaining nature and functions performed by God. By then Yoga which was familiar to many and was also a technique based on numbers – Astanga (eight), Sadanga, Pancanga(five)etc.

Sunya is another word for zero. We must understand those times, because then number played a major role then to describe something that was special and beyond reach. Zero was adopted because it is both the biggest and the smallest of numbers. It has all and none. It is a transcendental number. Arithmetic figures explained the non-empirical and supra-reality.

Sunya (zero) was also symbolic because it was the expression of balance between positive and negative numbers (neutral). It also speaks of wholeness or completeness or perfection. It was the transcendental point of both dimensions of God. Sunya in Kashmiri Saivism is lower than highest reality, God. But in Virasaivism it is the absolute as with Buddhism. Just as Pythagoras tried to explain the universe using numbers, eastern mystics too believed in the expression through numbers. Greek philosophers describe it as air and water, but eastern mysticism goes beyond senses and reason into transcendental reality experience.

Sampadane = spiritual gain or enlightenment.

In total Sunya Sampadane is the philosophy which helps us to attain spiritual unity with God.

Philosphy of Virasaivism:

For a Virasaivite 3 things are most important. It sums up their philosophy.

1. Satsthala (6 steps in the path to God or Sunya or Salvation).It is fundamental for the attainment of Sunya Sampadane.

2. Pancacara (5 goals of Virasaivism) – Lingacara (dedication to shiva), Sadacara (good deeds), Shivacara (purity of things), Gunacara(following precepts) and Brthyacara (respect for life and equality).

3. Astavarana (8 principles of spiritual life) – Guru, Linga, Jangama, Vibhuti (ash), Rudraksi and Mantra.

Method of attainment of Sunya:

Lingashakti within us is the fundamental ideal of Sunya Sampadane.

Satsthala philosophy is part of this attainment. There are different stages.

1. Bhakti – one needs to have a strong desire for God knowing who he/she is.

2. Mahesha – God gives qualities of patience and endurance as benefits.

3. Prasadi – relishing of benefits.

4. Pranalinga – imbibing the benefits and breathing the breath of God by going beyond the desires of body and flesh.

5. Sarana –Surrender born out of sacrifice.

6. Ikya – Ultimate union (Anga with Linga).

Saivism, Shaktism and Virasaivism are allied religions. Virasaivism makes a clear distinction between the other two. If Tantrism speaks of awakening in terms Kundalini, Virasaivism speaks of Lingasakti in us at the centre of our being that needs to be awakenedA number of Shivayogis have stressed the practice of Yoga as the possible path for this. The final stage (Ikya) is where the mind rests in the blank state. A Saivite believes in this journey from Nissabda (non-word) to Sabda (Word or God) through Bhakti marga.

Existentialism spoke of ‘being-in-the-world’ which was based on reason but Virasaivism believes in experience. It is the grasp from ' within' which helps to understand the deeper experience of humans (Anubhava). To understand Sunya (nothingness) we need to understand Nissabda (supreme nothingness) and Sabda (supreme Word – God). Virasaivism like Kashmiri Saivism believes in self-consciousness and self-experience. Nirvana (eternal happiness or salvation) is possible when we move from Nissabda (silence) to Sabda (God). Here God is the eternal word. It is similar to what Bible says “the word was with God and the word was God.” Therefore God is Sabda.

According to mystics, senses do not give us the correct view of reality. In Sunya Sampadane we reach a stage where we cannot understand or explain reality. It is a new realization. That is why Buddha rightly kept silent about his mystical experience. Several mystics over the years have said “If one tries to describe this experience one will lose the fruit of it. It is wise to remain silent.” Mystical experience is utter silence and pure consciousness i.e. Sunya. Pantanjali described it as ripples on the pond. Sabda (Word) is through uncreated principle with which we are able to enter the reality – God. The Koran says "Word is power." The bible says “In the beginning was the the word …” Sunya can be reached only when the devotee (Anga) and God (Linga) vanish in the union of both. Ultimately, Sunya, Sabda and Linga try to explain the same concept of God. When pure consciousness is reached everything will return back to Siva.

For example: When a tree is burnt it returns back to its original components or basic elements. The basic elementary things here represent Sunya or Nissabda. Sabda is that which is responsible for its existence.

In the case of Human beings, the eye which is the evolute of Agni (Fire) will return to Sivalinga.The nose, the evolute of Prithvi (Earth) will return to Acryalinga.

The tongue, evolute of Jalam (Water) will return to Gurulinga.The touch evolute of Vayu (water) will return to Jangamalinga.The ear evolute of Akash (Space) will return to Prasadalinga.Our whole being will return to God and will be one.

Conclusion:

Mystical experience is not the silence of the sarana (devotee/saint), rather it is the silence of the mind of the devotee. Prophet Mohammad, Valmiki, St. John of the Cross, St Teresa of Avila, Buddha and many other sages found it difficult to describe their mystical experience. Allamaprabhu said “My word was sweet to his (God's) ear and his to mine. The word of both of us became one. Therefore silence and no word penetrate into each of us.”

In Virasaivism ones life experience depends on ones ability to move from Nissabda to Sabda from Nissunya to Sunya. In today’s world, in general, people fail to find time for silence (Nissabda). There is no one even dreaming to think of reaching Sunya because today we live in a sophisticated world of development and technology. Some find no time for mass on sundays or worship at temples. Even the Church authorities have not fully realized that practicing the Eastern form of prayer is fruitful than the Western form of mental prayer.

If we can just find time to be still and know that there is one who is above us all, it will be the greatest achievement for an ordinary individual. This is in line with contemplative prayer that is becoming popular today among a few religious circles. The following words of Basavanna, “Let us be SIVAYOGI. When I am SILENT, there remains no other to talk as I am inherent in God. There is no "I "and YOU”. This means we will ultimately be one with Siva. All this still gives me hope of enriching my own spirituality.